Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults

The study was carried out to promote a greater awareness of the potential for colorectal cancer in young adults under 40 years of age. During the 8 years between 1986 and 1993, 237 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum were operated at the Uludağ University Hospital. Of these 237 cases, 46 patients under 40 years old were reviewed retrospectively. They accounted for 19.4% of the total number of patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum operated during the same period. Rectal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom. The mean duration of time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 5.8 months. The rectosigmoid area was the most frequently involved site (80%). Seventy-six percent of the patients had Dukes’ stage C or D tumors. Forty-eight percent of the tumors were either poorly differentiated or mucinous. The cumulative survival rate at 5 years was 43.4%. Patients under 40 years old with carcinoma of the colon and rectum are usually symptomatic and have advanced disease at the time of presentation. Although colorectal cancer is usually a disease of older patients it is becoming more common in younger populations.

Renal cell carcinoma with solitary synchronous pancreaticoduodenal and metachronous periprostatic metastases: report of a case

We report herein the case of a patient who underwent successful resection of a solitary metachronous periprostatic metastasis 12 months after undergoing a right radical nephrectomy with pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a synchronous pancreaticoduodenal metastasis. At present the patient is free of any signs of recurrence 12 months after removal of the metachronous mass in the periprostate. This case report supports the opinion that an aggressive surgical approach is appropriate for RCC metastasis.

Total thyroidectomy or lobectomy in benign nodular disease of the thyroid: changing trends in surgery

METHODS

Over a 23-month period (January 1994-December 1995) in the era of fine needle aspiration (FNA), 344 thyroid surgery operations were performed for benign diseases of the thyroid. Of these 55 total thyroidectomies or lobectomies were evaluated. Mean age was 43.6 + 9.7 and the female/male ratio was 47/8 (5.8). All cases were operated on with the consensus of the surgery + endocrinology + pathology council according to a protocol based on FNA, thyroid function tests, scintigraphy and ultrasound. Suspected FNA or suspected nodules during the surgery were verified by frozen section also. Of these 55 benign nodules, 7 (12.7%) had total bilateral, 48 (87.3%) unilateral lobectomies.

RESULTS

Postoperatively 3 cases (5.8%) of seroma, one transient hypoparathyroidism (1.8%) and one unilateral vocal cord paralysis (1.8%) were seen as complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In our center, FNA cytology has been a routine procedure since 1992. Surgery for benign thyroid disease has been reduced 50% since than. This study was started after two years of the FNA procedure. Resident nodules are the most common cause of recurrence in nodular thyroid disease, so some cases need radical surgery when it is decided to operate. Morbidity of surgery for recurrent disease is unacceptably high and is comparable to lifelong supplement therapy.

Anti-emetic efficacy of tropisetron and metoclopramide

Post-operative vomiting, especially in ambulatory surgical patients, remains a troublesome problem. This placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective double-blind trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two prophylactic anti-emetic regimens on post-operative vomiting in 1-day thyroid surgery. Altogether 60 elective surgical patients were followed for 4 h post-operatively. All patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I or II and aged between 22 and 60 years: group 1 was saline control; in groups 2 and 3, metoclopramide (0.2 mg/kg) or tropisetron (5 mg) was administered, respectively, as an intravenous single dose during induction. Patients were pre-medicated. A standardized anaesthetic technique consisting of thiopentone-succinylcholine for induction and fentanyl-nitrous oxide-halothane-pancuronium for maintenance of anaesthesia was used. A 'rescue' anti-emetic was provided in case of continued vomiting or at the patient's request. Anti-emetic inefficacy was defined as request for rescue anti-emetic and/or vomiting episode during the first 4 h post-operation. The number of patients vomiting was 12/20 (60%), 10/20 (50%) and 1/20 (5%) within the first 2 h post-operation in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P > 0.05 for groups 1 and 2; P < 0.01 for groups 2 and 3; P < 0.001 for groups 1 and 3). In group 2, three patients required rescue medication during the first 2 h post-operation, but no significant difference was observed between groups 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). None of the cases in any of the groups needed any rescue medication during post-operative 2-4 h. It is concluded that tropisetron is a highly effective anti-emetic drug in the prophylaxis of post-operative vomiting.

The effect of octreotide (SMS 201-995) on experimentally induced pancreatitis with 50% ethyl alcohol in rats

Brattle-Boro type rats with average weight of 200 gms were used for the experiment. We established 5 groups with 10 rats in each. Group I was the control group, Group II pancreatic trauma group and Group III rats were the pancreatitis group induced by 50% alcohol. Groups IV and V were the groups in which Octreotide was injected in different time intervals after induction of pancreatitis by 50% alcohol. Amylase values were statistically significant between the control group in which Octreotide was injected in different time intervals after induction of pancreatitis by 50% alcohol. The amylase values were statistically significant between the control group and the experiments (t2 = 4.69 p < 0.001, t3 = 8.06 p < 0.00001, t4 = 4.23 p < 0.002, t5 = 4.3 p < 0.002), and it was also significant between Group III and Groups II, IV, V (t2 = 9.62 p < 0.0001, t4 = 10.26 p < 0.0001, t5 = 3.69 p < 0.005), but it was not found significant between Groups II and IV, V (t4 = 0.52 p < 0.6, t5 = 1.69 p < 0.1). Histopathologic examination of the trauma group showed congestion, minimal lymphomonocyte infiltration. Patchy necrosis and shrinkage of the acinar cells with ductal dilatation were seen in the SMS 201-995 injection groups which were more pronounced in Group V. As a conclusion SMS 201-995 is not effective to prevent the ongoing pathology of pancreatitis but the increasing values of amylase were limited on the level of simply induced traumatic pancreatitis. It may be useful in the suppression of the enzymatic production during the course of pancreatitis.

Public attitudes toward organ donation. A survey in a Turkish community

A survey of public attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation was conducted in a Turkish community. The 1030 subjects were chosen using a random, stratified method. Some 50.5% of those interviewed were willing to donate their organs while 33.7% refused and 15.8% were uncertain. A total of 53.6% said they would consent to donate a deceased relative's organs. Reasons for refusal to donate organs were as follows: fear that their body would be cut into pieces (43.8%), religious beliefs (26.2%), no reason (23.1%) and the belief that they would need their body and organs for their second life (6.9%). Attitudes toward organ donation were clearly related to level of education, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.